Arun Kumar

Washington, April 24 Unmesh Brahme, an Indian corporate sustainability strategist for one of the largest international banks, has been named as one of 15 Yale World Fellows for this year.

A Yale University announcement on Friday described Brahme, Senior Vice President (Corporate Sustainability) at HSBC India as a corporate strategist who promotes socially responsible practices involving communities, stakeholders, and businesses.

Other Fellows include a noted Chinese independent filmmaker, the editorial page editor of Russia's most influential business daily, a Saudi Arabian foundation director and television personality, and a Bangladeshi editor considered an opinion shaper.

Zafar Sobhan, Op-Ed Editor and columnist, The Daily Star and Editor, Forum Magazine "edits and contributes to Bangladesh's paper of record as well as the nation's first 'think magazine'", the announcement said

"I am delighted that these extraordinary men and women have chosen to spend time at Yale," said Yale University President Richard C. Levin. "We are certain that their leadership skills will be strengthened, and that the Yale community will benefit greatly from their presence on campus."

"The Yale World Fellows Programme is a core element of Yale's ongoing commitment to global leadership development," he added.

The Yale World Fellows Programme has at its core three main goals: to provide advanced training to emerging leaders from diverse disciplines and countries, to link this network of world leaders to each other and to Yale in a tangible way, and to expand and deepen international understanding at Yale.

The 15 World Fellows for 2009 were selected from a pool of more than 900 applicants. Since its inception in 2002, 140 World Fellows from 70 countries have been named.

From August to December, the 2009 World Fellows will engage in a specially designed seminar taught by eminent Yale faculty; take any of the 3,000 courses offered at the University; participate in weekly dinners with distinguished guest speakers; receive individualized skill-building training; and meet with US and foreign leaders.